Device for spreading liquid



ct. 28, 1930. E. v GMElNER 1,780,126

DEVICE FOR SPREADING LIQUID Filed Oct. 21. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l /60 I .Unull mmMM rr Octf 28, 1930. E. v. GMEINER DEVICE FOR SPREADING LIQUID Filed Oct. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct.r 28, y1930 i UNTE ES ELMER V. GMEINER, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO DGI-IERTY RESEARCH COMPANY,` OF NEW YORILVN. Y,7 A COE/PGRATION OF DELAWARE DEVICE FOR SPREADLNG LIQUID l Application filed October 271, 1925. Serial No. 63,844.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid spreading' or spraying devices and more particularly to a device which will rotate under the action of the hydrostatic head of the liquid to Vbe spread.

It is an objectof the invention to provide a rotatable liquid-spreading device which will rotate under a low hydrostatic head of liquid.

Another object is to provide a `liquidspreading device which will distribute the liquid uniformly as the device rotates.

` A still 'further object is to provide a liquid-Spreading device which shall have auxiliary means enabling the liquid to impart r0- tation to the device when ther volume of the liquid being supplied to the device is comparatively small.` y r'he above andother objects ot the invention will appear from the detailed descrip- 20Vtion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l isan elevational view or" the iinproved liquid-spreading` device showing, the

` manner et.supporting` the same for rotation,k

and the mounting in the top ot a tank within which the device is designed to be used;

Y Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the spreading 3o device on an enlarged scale taken along the line'Q-Q ot Fig. yl `and showing certain preferred features of construction;

3 yis a partial plan and sectional View y on enlarged scale of the 'device a portion ot a radial branch Vo the same beingbroken away; l y l is afperspectiveview on an enlarged scale of a portion of one of the radial branches 40V of the spreading device and showing the preferred manner yof*construcjcing the same;

Fig. 5 is a bottoni plan view on an enlarged scale ,of a plate constituting` the bottom of the casing-g and i 'f Fig.y 6 isa detailed viewon an enlarged scale o1 the bear ing from which the device is rotatively supported. e Inthe drawings, numeral l() indicates a f tube or stem to the lower end of which is secured a plurality ot radially extending,I liquid-spreading devices generally indicated at l2. The bodjT ot the device is preferably an elongated conduitor casing 14C having'an opening at its top mid-.Way its ends, the tube or stem l0 being connected to the casing in line with said central opening. rlhe bottom of the casing` preferably taires the form illusn trated in Fig. V57 the same consisting)` otrav plaie lo suitably secured to the sides oi the casing'. This plate, on opposite sides 'of its center, is somewhat wider than the casing la' to form shelves 18 for a purpose thatwill` presently appear. These shelves entend forwardly lengthwise of one oi' tlic casing walls on opposite sides of the center oi the same, that is to say on diametrically opposite sides of the casing, both sides out the casing beyond which the shelves entend having a portion cutaway as incicated at 20 to permit liquid to low from the casing;l over the shelves. The plate i6 is provided with longitudinally extending and oppositely disposed downturned flanges 2l, Fig. 2, to enable the plate to be secured to the side Walls of the casing which are not cutaway,-suitable securing means 22 passing' through die flanges and adjacent sides of the casinaY holding the plate in fixed relation with respect to the easing le. The ends otA the plate i6 are also provided with downturnedlanges 21h Fin'. 1l, which are secured to the end walls C of the casing by any suitable securingA means generally indicated inasmuch Vas both ot the radially extendA ing branches l2 of the device are constructed in the same manner, a description of one will suflice for both. Extending between the top and bottom of the casing le in each of said branches is a plate or wall 30, Figs. 3 and e, having a series of spaced openings 32 therein. This wall extends at an angle to the sides of the casing in such a manner that a channel of gradually decreasing width is formed, thc channel being widest at the point where the liquid to be spread enters the casing, namely, where the stem or tube connects with the casing, and is narrowest at the outer extremity of the branch. Liquid Hows from the tube 1() into said channel and passes out over the shelf 18 through the ports 32 in the wall 30 and imparts a rotation to the device on the same principle as in the Barker-s mill. By arranging the wall at au angle the liquid will pass through all of the openings in substantial ,quantities due to the .fact that the gradually decreasing size of the channel prevents centrifugal force from moving a disproportionate amount of water toward the end of the branch; The bottom of the openings 32 preferably terminate above the bottom plate 16 a sufficient distance to permit liquid to flow toward the outer end ef the branch in a trough-like channel.

Uy providing a shelf on which the liquid received after passing` through the openings 32 in the wall 30, the liquid will be spread in a thin sheet as it leaves the shelf under the rotation of the device.

In order to prevent the liquid on the shelf 18 from being ymoved by centrifugal force toward kthe outer extremity of the branch, there is preferably providedon the shelfa series of ribs 36, Fig. 4, which extend from the edge of the shelf 18 toward the Wall 30. There are also provided. upright webs or baffles 38 whichv extend from the wall 30 forwardly to the casing wall having the cut away portion 20. For convenience of construction, the bales 36 and ribs 38 may conveniently be made in one piece as clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

That wall. of the casing having the cutaway portion 20 is preferably provided with a vertically' aejustable plate 40, the plate being provided with upright slots 42 through which, extend headed screws 44 for guidingA and holding the plate in adjusted partition. Slots 42 are of sufficient width to enable the plate to be adjusted at au angle with respect to the shelf18. By adjusting the plate 4() with respect to the shelf 18, the llow of liquid over the shelf is readily regulated.

In order that the t vice mayfunction under heads of liquid which may be too low to operate the device already described, there is provided on each branch 12, an attachment consisting cfa downwardly extending plate 46, the lower end of the plate being curved outwardly a vay from the shelf 18, the curve preferably being that of a cyeloid. The upper edgeof the plate 46, Figs.` 2 and4. is substantially in line with the outer edge of the shelf 18, the plate beine` secured to the casing in any suitable manner as by means of a lateral flange on the plate which extends below and is suitably secured to the shelf. Some of the liquid passing over the shelf 18 will drop onto the downwardly extending plate 46 and upon reaching the lower curved end thereof will impart an impelling action to the devi-ee as it leaves the plate. The plate 46 preferably depends from the shelf 18 at a slight angle to the vertical or to the axis of the tube 10 in order that advantage may be taken ofthe reaction set up between the plate and the falling water, such reaction tending to impart a rotary mot-ion to the device about the axis of the tube 10.

In order to prevent the liquid which passes down the plate 46 from being moved outwardlybycentrifugal force as the device rotatcs there is preferably provided. a series of vertical bailes 58, Figs. 2 and 4, which extend from the top of the plate 46 to the bottom thereof. These baliles, for. convenience i of construction, are. preferably ofthe form indicated in the drawing-s but it is within the spiritoftheinvention to make them of uniform height throughout. Thev ball'les also tend to prevent buckling of the plate 46 which, it may be stated, will be made from thin material-as willother parts of the dcvice in order to keep the weight ofthe dcviee as low as possible. Extending between the plate v46 and the bottom of the casing are uitable braces 52 which serve to maintain the plate in a fixed angular relation with respectfto the shelf 18.

The tube or stem 10 telescopes a pipe 54 through which'v liquid is supplied to the liquid spreading device. This pipe 54 is shown as passing through a plate 56 which is the top of a tank within which the device is adapted to operate. Leading from the pipe 54 is a lateral branch 57l leading to a suitable source of liquid. At the top of the pipe is arranged a thrust bearing generally indicated at 60 which co-operat-es with a rod 62 for supporting the rotary device in operative position with respect to the pipe 54. The rod 62 extends from the bearing 6() downwardlv through the pi Je 54 and through the tube or stem 1() and tn'ough the casing, the lower end of the rod being secured to the bottom of the casing in any suitable manner as shown in detail in Fig.. 2. The top of the rod extends above the bearing 60 and'is provided witha radially extending pointer or indicator 64 so that an observer may readily see if the device is rotating properly under the action ofthe liquid flowing thereto. The bearing is illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 and comprises amongtother things, a reducer 66 which is screwed to thetop of pipe 54. In the top of the reducer is screwed a fitting 68 having a counter-boredportion l7() within which. is mounted a suitable ball bearing 72. Resting on the ball bearing is a thrust bearing ory cap `74 through which the rod 62 passes and to which it is secured in any suitable manner yas by means of a set screw 76 the cap member 74.

The top of the tube l0 is preferably provided with a bearing ring 78 and the inside of the pipe 54 near its lower end is preferably provided with a bearing ring in the nature ofV a spider 8O through which the rod 62 passes. By providing these bearings the friction between the two pipes 'or conduits 10 and 54 is reduced to minimum. q

rEhe device has been primarily designed for spray/'ing water in a gas scrubber but it is not limitedto such use` as 'will be readily appreciated; f

While the invention has been described with considerable particularity of detail itis to Ybe distinctly understood that no limitations are intended except as may be defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a device for spreading liquid, an elongated liquid-discharging conduit having outlet ports throughout its length arranged to discharge liquid transversely of its longitudinal axis, said conduit being rotatable about anupright axis and having a tapered cross section offering a progressively increasing resistance to the flow of liquid towardthe outer end of the conduit as it rotates about said axis, and means forming an elongated angular opening of adjustable areathrough which the liquid isfmally discharged from the device.

2. vIn a device for spreading liquid, an elongated liquid-discharging conduit having outlet ports throughout its length, said conduit being rotatable about an upright axis and having a tapered cross section oering a progressively increasing resistance to the flow of liquid toward the outer end of the conduit as it rotates about said axis, and a plate depending fromthe conduit throughout its length below said ports and having its lower end dished outwardly and downwardlyy whereby liquid discharged frointhe conduit upon impinging on said dislied surface will impart a lateral thrust tendency to rotate the device about said axis.

SgA rotary device for spreading liquid comprising a tube adaptedV to be rotated about its axis and .through which the liquid to be spread is passed, a conduit extending radially from said tube, said conduit gradually decreasing in transverse width from the tube outwardly, a shelf extending from the bottom of the conduit, ports in the rear face of the conduit opening onto the shelf, webs extending upwardly from the shelf between the ports, and a plate extending downwardly from the edgeV of the shelf and having an-outwardly curved lower end, whereby liquid discharged from said conduit and repassing through ually decreasing in transverse width from,y

thetube outwardly, a shelf extending kfrom the bottom .of the conduit, ports. in ther conduit openingonto the shelf, webs extending upwardlyfrom the shelf between the ports, a plate Vextending downwardly fromthe edge of the shelf and having an outwardly curved lower end, whereby liquid. discharged from the conduit and received on the plate will impart a rotaryimpulse to the device aboutk the' tube axis, and means on the shelf and plate'forming channels in which the liquid 'may ow.

5. In a device for kspreading liquid, an elongated liquid-discharging conduit provided with means to discharge the liquid transversely of its length, said conduit being rotatable around an upright axis and gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area from its inlet outwardly whereby progressively increasing resistance is offered to the centrifugal force tending to move the liquid toward the outer end of the conduit as the latter moves around said axis, a shelf extending rearwardly thereof on which all of the discharged liquid from the conduit is received, and means forming with the upper surface of the shelf a relatively narrow elongated opening of adjustable area and dimensions through which the discharged liquid finally p passes. y

6. In a device for spreading liquid, an elongated liquid-discharging conduit having outlet ports arranged to discharge the liquid transversely of its length, said conduit being rotatable around an upright axis and gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area from its inlet outwardly whereby vprogressively increasino` resistance is offered to the centrifugal force tending to move the liquid toward the outer end of the conduit as the latter moves around said/axis, a shelf extendin rearwardly thereof on which all of the discharged liquid from the conduit is received,

and means forming with the upper surface ofthe shelf a relatively narrow elongated opening through which the discharged liquid finally passes, said means being vertically adjluslitble with respect to the surface of said sie 7. In a device for spreading liquid, an elongated liquid-discharging `conduit having out let ports arranged to discharge the liquid if rv12o ngel force tending to rmove the liquid toward the outer end of the conduit :is the'latter moves around said axis( a shelf extending rearwardly thereof 0n which all of the discharged liquid from the conduit is received, means forming with the upper surface of the shelf n relatively narrow elongated open-V ing through ywhich the discharged liquid passes,k said means being vertically adjustable with respect to the surface of'suid shelf, and spaced upright webs on the shelf extending froxn the rear face of the conduit rtoward said opening.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ELMER V. GM'EINER. 

